New Testament Prayers
The Pharisee and the Publican
God Be Merciful to Me a Sinner
Description
Jesus contrasted two prayers—the Pharisee's self-righteous recitation and the tax collector's humble plea for mercy. The latter went home justified, teaching that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Key Verses
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.